A city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada is just like any other city, unless you look at its historic past and try to understand the folklores.
Vijayawada, the second largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, lies on the banks of Krishna River surrounded by the hills of Eastern Ghats, known as Indrakeeladri Hills. It is geographically the centre spot of Andhra Pradesh. Vijayawada is considered as a sacred place, due to one of the most visited and famous temples of Kanaka Durga Temple of Hindu Goddess Durga.
There are many legends behind the origin of the name Vijayawada. It is said that Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura and relaxed at this place. As she was victorious, the place came to be known as Vijayawada where ‘Vijaya’ means victory and ‘wada’ translates as place; literally meaning ‘the place of victory’. The hill was called Indrakeeladri since it was said to be frequently visited by Indra and his affiliates. The epic ‘Mahabharata’ refers to the Indrakeeladri hills as the place where the mighty warrior Arjuna secured the ‘Pashupatastra’ from Lord Shiva. One of the names of Arjuna is ‘Vijaya’ (invincible). And thus, the city thereafter came to be known as Vijayavatika, ‘Vatika’ translates to place; and later still as Vijayawada.
In some legends, Vijayawada was referred to as ‘Rajendracholapuram’ as king Rajendra Chola won a battle against the Chalukya dynasty in 1068 and ruled over this place. A tale behind its acquiring the name Bezawada is that Goddess Krishnaveni (River Krishna) requested Arjuna to make a passage for her to merge into the Bay of Bengal. Hence, Arjuna made a ‘bejjam’ (hole) through the mountains and the place came to be known as Bejjamwada, later changed to Bezawada. Other names of Vijayawada were Vijayavata, Beejapuram, Kanakaprabha, Kanakapuram, Kanakawada, Jayapuri, Vijayapuri, Phalguna Kshetram and Jananathpura in the twelfth century CE.
Bezawada was founded around 626 AD by the Paricchedi Kings. History reveals that Bezawada was ruled by King Madhava Varma — one of the kings of Vishnukundina dynasty. Chinese Buddhist scholar Xuanzang stayed a few years in Bezawada in around 640 CE to copy and study the ‘Abhidhamma Pitaka’, the last of the three pitakas (Pali for baskets) constituting the Pali canon, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism.
Mogalrajapuram hills have five rock-cut temples, built between the fourth and the ninth centuries. Some of the caves can be attributed to Vishnukundina dynasty. Akkana Madanna Caves, at the foot of Indrakeeladri Hill, is a monument of national importance. At the foot of Indrakeeladri hills is the temple of Malleswara. The temple has inscriptions dating back to ninth century AD to 16th century AD by various kings. There are ten pillars and a mutilated slab with inscriptions in the Telugu language. Of them, the inscriptions issued by Yudhamalla I and II of Eastern Chalukyas are important, and these are recognised as monuments by Archaeological Survey of India.
‘Durga Pooja’ and a special ‘Theppotsavam’ in Krishna River are important events of the Hindu festival of Dussehra in the city, mainly due to the existence of self-manifested Kanaka Durga Temple.
Kondapalli Toys — which were granted geographical indication in 2007 — are handmade by the artisans of Kondapalli, a suburb of Vijayawada. Victoria Jubilee Museum is an archaeological museum in the city, which houses sculptures, paintings, and artefacts of Buddhist and Hindu relics, dating back to the second and third centuries.
